The career of this veteran music arranger/songwriter/producer/musician begins in Tulsa, Oklahoma where “Dino” began his musical journey as a local musician.

Dino began entertaining professionally at the age of twelve where he and Gap Band legend Charlie Wilson, along with some other childhood friends started their first performing band, “The Carver GTs” later to become “The Majestic Soul”. The band performed at the local Y.M.C.A, private parties, teen hops, and nightclubs. Additionally, this band was the warm up act for a Beach Boys concert at the Tulsa Fairgrounds which initiated instant local appeal, and fans were awe struck at the professionalism of this group because of group’s young members. By high school, the name of this band changed to The Spinadas (the name of a mild alcoholic beverage that flourished in the 70s).

In their early teen years, Dino and Charlie were asked to fill-in for Charlie’s older brother (Ronnie Wilson, another Gap Band legend), and another musician in a group called The Magnificent Seven, which was co-founded by the older Wilson brother. Immediately, Dino and Charlie were recruited into this band, and continued to back black music dignitaries at the larger venues. Sam & Dave (Hold on I’m Comin”), The Ike & Tina Turner Review, Mel & Tim (Backfield In Motion), The Chi-Lites, Lowell Fulsom, Bobby Bland, Joe Simon, The Festivals, are to name a few of the many acts that were backed by this band.

In 1971, Dino began his college career, and along with Charlie Wilson, was part of Langston University’s “US” Combo which was used as a tool in the College’s recruitment program. This group gained instant fame on some of the nation’s high school and college campuses.

During the later part of Dino’s college career, the Wilson Brothers (later to become The Gap Band), became Leon Russell’s touring band, and was given a recording contract with Russell’s, Shelter Records.

Upon completion of college studies, Dino became a member of another Tulsa local band, (Sunshine & Herbs), and persuaded the band to move to the West Coast in search of better performing venues and a possible recording contract with a major company.

It was in 1978, while Dino was performing with Sunshine & Herbs in Portland, Oregon when his childhood, and best friend Charlie Wilson called informing Dino that Gap Band had landed a recording contract Mercury Records. Charlie wanted Dino to perform with Gap Band, and write horn & string arrangements for the group.

Dino immediately moved to Los Angeles, and began performing with Gap Band (who at the time was D. J. Roger’s (“Say You Love Me”) backup band), at venues in the area, and around the country.

Dino wrote the horn arrangement for the 1st Gap Band hit “Shake”, and subsequently became in-house arranger for Total Experience/Polygram Records headed by Entrepeanuer Lonnie Simmons. Dino began writing orchestra arrangements for all acts signed to Total Experience. Dino was given a producer’s contract with Total Experience Productions, and was one of the producers/arrangers on the Yarbrough & Peoples album “The Two of Us” which contained the hit single, “Don’t Stop The Music”. Dino was also signed to Total Experience Music Publishing as a songwriter, and with Charlie Wilson, penned Gap Band II’s perennial “The Boys Are Back In Town”, which is an anthem for the group and their hometown of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Dino wrote or co-wrote, arranged, or produced many of the popular songs coming from the Total Experience Productions/Mercury for all the acts signed to the company.

Dino, (who is now staff producer for Los Angeles based Play YoSong Records, Inc. & Good Sense Productions), is still showing music muscle in the industry currently in production of his R & B rooted album, “The Malvin Dino Vice Project” which features best friend, Charlie Wilson, long time friend Victor “Jimi Hamilton, Defrantz Forrest, Denetra Champ, and Maia (Belinda Davids). “This album was done in the name of keeping music real, and the preservation of R & B”.